Frank Matcham

The most prolific theatre architect of the Victorian and Edwardian  era was Frank Matcham. He designed more than 120 theatres and many of these are still in business including Buxton Opera House, The Palace, Manchester, The London Palladium and London Colliseum.

Matcham was born in 1854 in Newton Abbot and brought up in Torquay. On leaving school, he became apprenticed to local architect George Bridgeman. He was soon to move to London to join the practice of Jethro Robinson who was consultant theatre architect to the Lord Chamberlain.  In 1877 he married Robinson's daughter and the following year, aged 24, he took over the practice on the death of his Father in Law.

Matcham never formally trained nor qualified as an architect, learning his skills "on the job". Although his work was executed speedily, the buildings that he designed were exquisitely decorated and highly innovative. The theatres introduced cantilevered galleries avoiding the pillars which obstructed the view of the stage in earlier buildings. Matcham provided new safety features at a time when theatre fires were of major concern.

Based in Central London, the practice carried out work throughout the British Isles. Frank Matcham stated that he would often spend alternate weeks in London and the Provinces. When at his office, he would work in the mornings and then return to his North London home where he would work at the drawing board. In addition to theatres, a number of cinemas, pubs and private houses were designed. Matcham was also responsible for the Tower Ballroom, Blackpool and the County Arcade in Leeds. Many drawings are held by the Victoria and Albert Museum although much was lost when the office suffered wartime bombing.

Matcham was still working at the time of his death in 1920. He died from blood poisoning said to be caused by over zealous trimming of his finger nails !